Car winner to enjoy it while he can

Nigel Gray with an identical car to the one he will receive in about a month. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Nigel Gray can't wait to drive away in his new $60,000 Subaru Legacy, after winning the Herald's competition.

But he might not have it for long - his wife wants it sold, with the money going towards their mortgage.

The sedan was the prize in the Herald's "Win the new Subaru Legacy GT" competition.

The banking adviser said: "I would like to keep the car but my wife is coming up with other ideas about what the money could be used for."

Both Mr Gray and his wife calculate home loan repayment rates for a living, so they know the difference the cash value of the car would make on their mortgage.

Mr Gray had been into "pocket rockets" before settling down with a family and he was going to have fun with the Legacy for at least the summer, he said.

He is looking forward to taking it for a spin with his two children, aged 1 and 4.

Mr Gray found out about his win after an unusual message was left on his phone, he said.

"This one in particular stood out from the rest. I thought it was going to be someone like a telemarketer trying to offer me something."

But rather than an expensive travel package to Australia, he discovered the caller was offering him a free car worth $60,000.

"It was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I was totally blown away. It's a dream car."

Mr Gray had never bought a car brand-new before. Technically, he still had not, his latest being a prize from Subaru.

His current ride was 12 years old with more than 150,000 kilometres on the clock. A number of friends and family had Subarus which he had been quietly admiring, he said.

Mr Gray had been chosen out of more than 200,000 entries in the competition.

He said he had been lucky in prize draws before, winning a fishing rod and a pair of sunnies at a liquor store.